SUPER MONDAY

A motivational and informational morning message from Superintendent Willis

Week 10 ~ October 14th, 2024

Super Monday Message

Did you know that from 1912 to 1952 there were art competitions at the olympics? They gave out medals for architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture. Unfortunately those events were a little boring to watch and were not continued. In centuries past it was not uncommon to judge the best artists against each other and for every day people to know the names of the most famous painters and sculptures. One of the most anticipated and famous artist duels of all time was scheduled in 1504 in Florence, Italy.

The competition would be between just two painters and the canvas would be the sidewalls of a newly built government building. The room was called the “Hall of Five Hundred” as it was designed to hold the 500 members of the region's rule making body. One artist would paint a scene from the Battle of Anghiari and the other would illustrate a scene from the Battle of Cascina. These two battles were significant in Florentine history. 

The first competitor was to be the world famous Leonardo Da Vinci. He was 52 years old in 1504. He had been tutored from a young age and had quickly grown to a skill level beyond his tutors. By 1500 he had already painted more than a dozen works that are still famous today. His painting titled Salvator Mundi sold at auction in 2017 for over $450 million and is suspected to be hung on the wall of a Saudi Arabian yacht. Da Vinci had already painted famous murals, including The Last Supper. When he accepted the competitive challenge in Florence he had just started on a portrait for Lisa del Giocondo. It would become the Mona Lisa.

The second competitor was to be the young and not as famous yet, Michelangelo Buonarroti. At 29 years old he had already achieved a lot of notoriety. He had been tutored by great artists but, like Da Vinci, he was quickly correcting their work. While Michelangelo was very skilled with the paintbrush, his early fame came from his work as a sculptor. He was commissioned to sculpt Mary holding the body of Jesus. It caused quite the stir in Rome when it was completed, and word of its perfection spread rapidly. At the beginning of 1504 he had just finished what is perhaps now considered one of the greatest sculptures of all time, he sculpted a naked David prior to his battle with Goliath. If you think Michelangelo couldn’t have been prepared to face Da Vinci in a painting competition at that time, keep in mind that Michelangelo started work on the Sistene chapel ceiling just a few years later.

The competition started with each artist making sketches of their planned murals. Da Vinci sketched a triangular shaped piece with rearing horses and soldiers in a desperate battle. Under the horses men wrestled and fought for their lives. Michelangelo’s vision was of the soldiers bathing in the river before the battle. His sketch was of soldiers scrambling onto the river bank and hurriedly pulling on clothes as trumpeters announced the coming battle. The sketches were very well received and the anticipation was high.

Unfortunately, neither of the planned murals were finished. Da Vinci had experimented with a new type of paint that proved to be a disaster. As he watched his first hours of work dry and fall off the wall he lost his motivation for the project. Seeing Da Vinci lose his passion for the project made Michelangelo’s mind wander as well. Both Artists accepted offers to work on other projects and left the Hall of Five Hundred uncompleted. 

Perhaps you’ve had a moment like these two great artists, you had something big and bold planned and it just didn’t come together. Both of these artists still went on to complete stunning works of art, architecture, and science. Don’t let one failed competition or one failed project set you back on what is bound to be a great future. Have a great week 10.

Super High Fives

Just a couple of the awesome recent accomplishments that need a big thank you. 

• A super high five to the baseball team for a great season. A super high five to the coaches as well. The baseball team has been among the top 4 teams at the state tournament for 12 of the last 15 years. Big high five to the only senior Tavin Jessen. We’ll expect the rest back next year.
• A super high five to Aleia Nay and her coordination of the field trip to the Adobe campus in Lehi. A great opportunity for our students and a great experience they won’t forget.

Other Super Information

• Voter Information Pamphlet
• Fall Sports Calendar 2024
• 2024-2025 School District Calendar
• Truth-In-Taxation Hearing Presentation
• Latest Elementary Schools Design Draft
• New Elementary Schools Information

Super Weekly Schedule